De Gea dejected by European loss

The Reds were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by the Spanish club, who progress to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate after a draw in the away leg.

De Gea was frustrated against his former club, even going up for an injury-time corner in a desperate bid to grab an equaliser. 

Speaking to MUTV and BT Sport following the full-time whistle, David said: “We are really disappointed with the result.

“Obviously, it's difficult to describe in words how we feel now at the moment, but we did not do enough in both games to win both games. So we were not at our best, to be honest. But it’s a very disappointing day for us.” 

He added: “It is always tough going out of the Champions League, especially the way we did getting a draw in Madrid and we should have won this game, to be honest. But we don’t win the game and we are out again. Another bad year for us so it is very, very tough.”

Having taken the lead through Renan Lodi’s first-half header, Diego Simeone’s side had something to hold on to and successfully protected their advantage to win the tie.

“As soon as they scored the goal, they put the whole team in front of [Jan] Oblak,” De Gea said. “10 players there, defensive. A very defensive team and it’s really difficult to score against them, but we tried. We tried until the end – it was not enough to score a goal.

“They’re a team with a lot of experience. They know how to play those games, Champions League games, tight games.

“They scored the goal and sit in – so it was very difficult for us to create chances, we didn’t create many chances. This is football, this is Champions League and we are out of one of the most important competitions and so we are really, really sad.”

In the build-up to Atletico’s goal, Anthony Elanga appeared to have been fouled but the officials allowed play to continue. The Spanish keeper had little comment on the decision, however, saying: “I don’t want to say anything about the referee. I think everyone who watched it, can say anything.

“That’s what happened and cannot change so, this is football. Like I say, it wasn’t enough to beat Atletico.”

On United finishing the campaign without any silverware, he conceded: “It's too many years without a trophy or fighting for trophies. Every year, we want to achieve good things, fight for trophies and play for top four and be there and get out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, so we need much more from everyone because this club is too big to be where we are now.

“Of course, we want the best for this club. Myself, I have been here many, many years and I love the club. A difficult season again. I believe, but I don’t know when this club will be back at the top and we will are going to be fighting for big things.”